True situation: You've accepted a well paying assignment to do a project in a remote corner of the world. When you arrive, you discover you've left your shaving soap at home. A visit to the local market turns up plenty of food, but no proper shaving cream – not even canned goo. All you've got in your kit is a straight edge and wee bar of hand soap. You're mostly skin on top, so you don't carry shampoo. Company policy insists you make every effort to appear in public each day clean shaved.

(06-06-2016, 02:48 PM)kav Wrote: " We want to return to civilization as soon as possible"- George Conway "And what makes you think you've left it"?-Chang Very few cultures, however 'remote' in a world with only a handful of truly isolated people lack local means and traditions to shave. As to the matter of porters? We have been expecting a shipment from BULLGOOSE SHAVING for several months now. Father Perrault is most anxious to try Savonnerie du Moulin

Thank you, everyone, for your helpful comments! Tepid water and plenty of it seems the best solution for a down-to-the-bone straight-edge man. He's in central Africa, where diet Coca-Cola can be got anywhere, but an almond-sized dollop of Arko is but a dream. As he gets acclimated, I'm sure he learn what men there use to make their lathers.

Given the political turmoil and social injustice Africa suffers from past and present economic colonialism your friend should ponder not what his employer wishes to project, but what will gain trust with the people. My avocation of anthropology taught me you 'don't go native' but also not to impose even well meaning values.
Tell your friend to ask help from someone of social stature- and this could very well be someone of little import to outsiders but immense influence locally. I gained the confidence of the last speaker of a California language this way. He was a janitor. Who says sweeping down Cutters fore and aft doesn't pay off.

A decent hand soap and lots of water is possible, I've done it. You may, rather will, have to constantly apply and lather as you go as hand soap lather tends to dissipate rapidly, but you can do. Takes more time and attention.

Two years in Viet Nam taught me how to use cold water and whatever soap was available. You can get fairly good at making a decent enough lather out of almost any soap when you have to. However, it's probably related to my current indulgence with luxury shaving items.